Cardiac surgery in renal transplant recipients.
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Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
Biomedical subjects
S Taketani
Publications and source records attributed to S Taketani.
Apoptosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma (COLO 201) by tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and/or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), resulting from down-modulation of Bcl-2 expression.
Fas antigen is constitutively expressed in the normal colon epithelium, but considerably diminished in most colorectal carcinomas. In the present study, we examine the relationship between Fas antigen expression and apoptosis using the colorectal carcinoma cell line COLO 201, on which a low grade of Fas antigen is expressed. Anti-Fas antibody had no effect on the induction of apoptosis of COLO 201. However, TNF-alpha and/or IFN-gamma, independently and additively, up-regulated Fas antigen expression on COLO 201 and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Both cytokines also increased the COLO 201 sensitivity to anti-Fas antibody, resulting from the down-modulation of Bcl-2 and the up-regulation of Bax. These findings indicate that cytokine(s) plus anti-Fas antibody (which mimics natural Fas ligand) are more effective in inducing apoptosis of COLO 201 than cytokine(s) alone. These findings suggest that immunotherapy in combination with cytokine(s) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells will become a more effective therapy for cancer than cytokine(s) or LAK cells alone, since the Fas ligand is expressed on activated T cells, natural killer cells and macrophages.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Acquisition of cell adhesion and induction of focal adhesion kinase of human colon cancer Colo 201 cells by retinoic acid-induced differentiation.
The human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines Colo 201 and Colo 205 lose adhevise capacity to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and take on a round and floating cell shape. Treatment of these cells with all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) results in inhibition of growth and in a marked increase in the production of carcinoembryonic antigen, thereby indicating that the cells undergo differentiation. This RA-induced differentiation was accompanied by a large increase in the degree of cell adhesion with localization of E-cadherin molecules at cell-cell contact sites. We examined several adhesion molecules involved in cell-cell and cell-ECM interaction by immunoblotting, but no change in E-cadherin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, or CD44 was observed in RA-treated Colo 201 cells. Although the adhesion of Colo 201 cells to ECM depends on the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence, levels of integrins, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha V, and beta 1 in differentiated adherent cells were similar to those in untreated cells. In contrast to equivalent amounts of cell surface adhesion molecules before and after differentiation, intracellular focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was markedly induced during RA treatment, and the increase in FAK resulted in elevation of tyrosine-phosphorylated FAK. These findings suggest a role for FAK in activation of cell adhesion of RA-induced differentiation of these colon cancer cells. This may serve as an appropriate model to examine the mode of activation of the adhesive capacity of cancer cells.
Actins↗
A novel technique for cardiopulmonary bypass using vacuum system for venous drainage with pressure relief valve: an experimental study.
To decrease the circuit priming volume, develop safety, and simplify the equipment, a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit using a vacuum suction venous drainage system with a pressure relief valve was developed. The efficacy of this vacuum system was compared to that of a conventional siphon system. The system contains a powerful vacuum generator and a pressure relief valve to keep the negative pressure constant when blood suction is used. Using 8 mongrel dogs, the feasibility and the efficacy of this CPB system was tested. The changes in the negative pressure in the reservoir were within 5 mm Hg whether the suction lines were switched on or off. In all animals the amount of blood in the venous reservoir was stable throughout bypass. The decrease of priming volume was from 725 ml (siphon system) to 250 ml (vacuum system). At the end of CPB, the levels of hemoglobin in the vacuum system were significantly higher than those in the siphon system. These results demonstrated that this vacuum drainage system can provide simplification and a miniaturization of the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit resulting in low hemodilution during CPB.
Animals↗
Involvement of the tyrosine phosphorylation pathway in induction of human heme oxygenase-1 by hemin, sodium arsenite, and cadmium chloride.
The effect of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, on the induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA in HeLa cells upon exposure to hemin, sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride was examined. The induction of HO-1 mRNA by hemin was inhibited when the cells were pretreated with herbimycin A. Herbimycin also inhibited arsenite- and cadmium-dependent induction of HO-1 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner, but less inhibition was observed in cadmium-treated cells than in ones treated with hemin- or arsenite. Genistein (50 microM), another tyrosine kinase inhibitor, also inhibited the induction of HO-1 mRNA by hemin, arsenite, and cadmium. Nuclear runoff assays revealed that herbimycin blocked the hemin-induced transcription of the HO-1 gene. The induction of HO-1 mRNA by hemin in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was inhibited by herbimycin. The tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein with a molecular mass of 66 kDa in the cells was increased by hemin- or arsenite-treatment, and this increase was inhibited by treatment with 5 microM herbimycin. When HeLa cells were treated with a specific inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular-signal regulated kinase cascade, PD58059 (100 microM), suppression of the cadmium-dependent HO-1 induction was not observed, but the hemin- or arsenite-dependent induction was slightly inhibited. SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, did not affect the HO-1 induction. These results indicated that signal transduction involving tyrosine kinase rather than the MAPK family regulates the induction of human HO-1 gene expression by stress inducers.
Arsenites↗
Rapid molecular diagnosis of erythropoietic protoporphyria among Swiss patients.
Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder with incomplete penetrance. It is caused by partial deficiency of ferrochelatase, the last enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Measurement of protoporphyrin concentrations in red cells and feces, although sufficient for diagnosis of symptomatic EPP patients, fails to detect asymptomatic gene carriers. We have developed a molecular diagnostic procedure for rapid and reliable screening of five known mutations in the ferrochelatase gene among Swiss EPP patients in a single denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) gel.
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗
Molecular cloning, sequencing and expression of cDNA encoding human trehalase.
A complete cDNA clone encoding human trehalase, a glycoprotein of brush-border membranes, has been isolated from a human kidney library. The cDNA encodes a protein of 583 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 66,595. Human enzyme contains a typical cleavable signal peptide at amino terminus, five potential glycosylation sites, and a hydrophobic region at carboxyl terminus where the protein is anchored to plasma membranes via glycosylphosphatidylinositol. The deduced amino acid sequence of the human enzyme showed similarity to sequences of the enzyme from rabbit, silk worm, Tenebrio molitor, Escherichia coli and yeast. Northern blots revealed that human trehalase mRNA of approx. 2.0 kb was found mainly in the kidney, liver and small intestine. Expression of the recombinant trehalase in E. coli provided a high level of the enzyme activity. The isolation and expression of cDNA for human trehalase should facilitate studies of the structure of the gene, as well as a basis for a better understanding of the catalytic mechanism.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Mechanisms underlying apoptosis induced by combination of 5-fluorouracil and interferon-gamma.
Several investigators have reported on the clinical effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or the combination of 5-FU plus interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. It has also been reported that apoptosis induced by 5-FU is due to the effects on DNA synthesis and functional RNA synthesis. In the present study, we examine the biological mechanisms underlying 5-FU or the combination of 5-FU plus IFN-gamma, using the colorectal carcinoma cell line, COLO 201, 5-FU and IFN-gamma independently or additively induced apoptosis in COLO 201 in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which was correlated with the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and the up-regulation of Bax. An interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like protease inhibitor (but not an ICE-inhibitor) blocked apoptosis induced by only 5-FU. These results suggest that 5-FU has the capacity to induce apoptosis in COLO 201, resulting from the up-regulation of Bax; the apoptosis-inducing signal of 5-FU seems to be different from that of IFN-gamma. Thereby, 5-FU and IFN-gamma have additional effects on the induction of apoptosis. This finding provides an experimental basis for clinical therapy using 5-FU and/or IFN-gamma for colorectal cancer.
Adenocarcinoma↗
C-Myc expression and its role in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation.
BACKGROUND: Proto-oncogenes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of gene-mediated myocardial remodeling. In the human heart, however, it has not been clarified whether these proto-oncogenes are related to contractile impairment and structural alteration of the myocardium. The present study is designed to investigate the relationship between the c-Myc protein expression in the myocardium and the myocardial contractile dysfunction in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation who underwent indicated for aortic valve replacement. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve patients (11 males and one female) with an average age of 55 years who underwent aortic valve replacement for isolated chronic aortic regurgitation were studied. The preoperative New York Heart Association class was II in four patients and III in eight. Ejection fraction, end-systolic volume index, end-systolic stress (Mirsky's form), and mass index of the left ventricle before surgery were 47+/-13%, 93+/-37 mL/m2, 223.2+/-44.4 Kdyn/cm2, and 210+/-38 g/m2, respectively. A left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy was performed to assess the myocardial cell diameter, fibrous content, and c-Myc protein expression in the myocardium. Cell diameter and fibrous content were significantly higher than those in five normal controls. C-Myc was detected in 9 of 12 present patients but in none of the normal controls. The degree of c-Myc expression had significant positive correlations with ejection fraction (r=0.93; P<.01) and end-systolic stress/end-systolic volume index (r=0.96; P<.01) and significant negative correlations with end-systolic volume index (r=-0.90; P<.01), cell diameter (r=-0.97; P<.01), and fibrous content (r=-0.92; P<.01), which suggested that the degree of c-Myc expression may have a significant negative correlation with myocardial contractility and myocardial hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: C-Myc expression may be related to the pathogenesis of myocardial remodeling in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation.
Adult↗
Heme biosynthesis by the malarial parasite. Import of delta-aminolevulinate dehydrase from the host red cell.
The mouse and human malarial parasites, Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum, respectively, synthesize heme de novo following the standard pathway observed in animals despite the availability of large amounts of heme, derived from red cell hemoglobin, which is stored as hemozoin pigment. The enzymes, delta-aminolevulinate dehydrase (ALAD), coproporphyrinogen oxidase, and ferrochelatase are present at strikingly high levels in the P. berghei infected mouse red cell in vivo. The isolated parasite has low levels of ALAD and the data clearly indicate it to be of red cell origin. The purified enzyme preparations from the uninfected red cell and the parasite are identical in kinetic properties, subunit molecular weight, cross-reaction with antibodies to the human enzyme, and N-terminal amino acid sequence. Immunogold electron microscopy of the infected culture indicates that the enzyme is present inside the parasite and, therefore, is not a contaminant. The parasite derives functional ALAD from the host and the enzyme binds specifically to isolated parasite membrane in vitro, suggestive of the involvement of a receptor in its translocation into the parasite. While, ALAD, coproporphyrinogen oxidase, and ferrochelatase from the parasite and the uninfected red cell supernatant have identical subunit molecular weights on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and show immunological cross-reaction with antibodies to the human enzymes, as revealed by Western analysis, the first enzyme of the pathway, namely, delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS) in the parasite, unlike that of the red cell host, does not cross-react with antibodies to the human enzyme. However, ALAS enzyme activity in the parasite is higher than that of the infected red cell supernatant. We therefore conclude that the parasite, while making its own ALAS, imports ALAD and perhaps most of the other enzymes of the pathway from the host to synthesize heme de novo, and this would enable it to segregate this heme from the heme derived from red cell hemoglobin degradation. ALAS of the parasite and the receptor(s) involved in the translocation of the host enzymes into the parasite would be unique drug targets.
Animals↗
Presence of B cell progenitors in the thymus.
We characterize B cell progenitors in the thymus. Although mature thymic B cells are surface Ig+, B220(high), but CD43-, B cell progenitors in the thymus were found to be slg-, B220(med), and CD43+. Most progenitors showed rearranged Ig D-J and V-D-J patterns when DNA from sorted B cell progenitors was amplified by PCR, blotted, and probed. When B cell progenitors were purified from the thymus and injected intrathymically into Ig heavy chain (Igh) allotype-disparate recipients, B cells bearing donor-type Igh6 were detected in the thymus but not in the periphery. Thymic B cells generated from these progenitors were CD5+ cells, although there was a broad range of expression of CD5 molecules. Furthermore, B cells purified from thymus that had been inoculated with B cell progenitors were able to differentiate into Ab-forming cells under the influence of CD40 ligand plus IL-10, and secreted IgM with donor Igh6 allotype. We thus clarified the existence of B cell progenitors in the thymus and also characterized the surface markers and their developmental functions.
Animals↗
Involvement of the transcriptional factor GATA-1 in regulation of expression of coproporphyrinogen oxidase in mouse erythroleukemia cells.
Coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPO; EC 1.3.3.3), the sixth enzyme of heme biosynthesis, transcribed from a single promoter is markedly induced during erythroid differentiation. CPO is ubiquitously expressed in all cells. To determine cis-acting elements of the human CPO gene, the promoter region of the gene was isolated, and three potential GATA-1 motifs and four GC boxes were found within this fragment. In a functional analysis of various deletion mutants, we found that the GATA-1 binding site at -143 to -138 was essential for basic and inducible expressions of the CPO gene in mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. Gel mobility shift assay revealed that GATA-1 bound to the region is required for the expression and this was confirmed by observations that the nuclear protein bound to the GATA-1 motif was supershifted with anti GATA-1 antibody, by gel mobility shift assay. Furthermore, co-expression of mouse GATA-1 in MEL cells led to an increase in the promoter activity, which was markedly increased by dimethyl sulfoxide-treatment. These results indicate that GATA-1 plays an important role in regulation of transcription of the CPO gene in erythroid cells.
Animals↗
Expression of stress proteins heme oxygenase-1 and -2 in acute pancreatitis and pancreatic islet betaTC3 and acinar AR42J cells.
Oxygen-derived free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, yet adaptive responses in the pancreas in vivo to oxidative stress remain poorly defined. We have investigated expression of the stress protein heme oxygenase in the intact pancreas of rats with caerulein-induced pancreatitis and in cultured pancreatic acinar and islet cell lines. Expression of inducible heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the pancreas in vivo was enhanced 12-24 h after induction of pancreatitis. In murine islet (betaTC3) and rat acinar (AR42J) pancreatic cells, H2O2, methyl viologen, cadmium chloride and diethylmaleate enhanced HO-1 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner, without altering expression of constitutive HO-2. Enhanced expression of HO-1 in the pancreas in vivo and pancreatic islet and acinar cells may contribute to cellular defences against oxidative stress associated with acute pancreatitis.
Animals↗
Pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells are c-kit<low.
Pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells (P-HSCs) were thought to be c-kit+, but recent reports indicate that they are c-kit(low). In the present report, we provide evidence using Ly5 congenic mice that P-HSCs are c-kit(<low). Lineage-negative (Lin-)/CD71- cells among bone marrow cells (BMCs) from C57BL/6 Ly5.1 mice were separated into major histocompatibility complex class I(high) (class I(high))/c-kit(low) and class I(high)/ c-kit(<low) populations. Each population (500 cells) was transplanted into lethally (9.0 Gy) irradiated C57BL/6 Ly5.2 congenic mice along with Ly5.2 (2 x 10(5)) compromised cells. Donor-derived Ly5.1+ cells were detected 6 months after transplantation in primary recipients reconstituted with either class I(high)/c-kit(low) or class I(high)/c-kit(<low) cells. BMCs (1 x 10(6)) from the primary recipients were further transplanted into secondary recipients (Ly5.2 mice) to assess their long term repopulating activity. Six months after bone marrow transplantation, Ly5.1+ cells in all lineages were detected only in secondary recipients that had been given BMCs from the primary recipients reconstituted with class I(high)/c-kit(<low) cells but not in cells that were class I(high)/c-kit(low). When the BMCs (1 x 10(6)) of these secondary recipients were further transplanted into tertiary recipients, all tertiary recipients that had been given BMCs from the secondary recipients originally reconstituted with Lin-/CD71-/class I(high)/c-kit(low) cells died within 10 days whereas all six tertiary recipients originally reconstituted with Lin-/CD71-/class I(high)/c-kit(<low) cells showed donor (Ly5.1+)-derived cells in their peripheral blood. In the single tertiary recipient that was killed, donor-derived T cells, B cells, macrophages, and granulocytes also were detected in several major hematolymphoid organs. The remaining five mice continue to survive more than 6 months after the tertiary bone marrow transplantation.
Animals↗
Myocardial histological changes in dilated cardiomyopathy during a long-term left ventricular assist device support.
As the myocardium in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is deteriorating progressively, resulting in a decrease in left ventricular function, patients with end-stage DCM may require implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) unless they undergo heart transplantation. Although LVAD has been reported to provide excellent hemodynamic support, no data are currently available about the effects of long-term LVAD support on the myocardium in patients with DCM. We describe two patients with end-stage DCM who underwent LVAD implantation and were supported with LVAD for 524 and 245 days, respectively. Serial myocardial biopsies showed increases in myocardial cell diameter and intercellular fibrosis, despite excellent hemodynamic support by LVAD. These data suggest that the myocardium in patients with end-stage DCM deteriorates progressively, even if the pre-load of the left ventricle is reduced by LVAD.
Adult↗
Idiopathic iliac arterial aneurysms in a child.
Arterial aneurysms are very rare in children, especially those who have no history of cardiac or vascular malformation, connective tissue disorder, or trauma. We describe a 3-year-old boy who had multiple arterial aneurysms of the left external iliac artery with a maximal diameter of 67 mm, with no history of these disorders. The iliac artery distal to the aneurysm and superficial femoral artery were occluded causing the growth disturbances of his left leg. He underwent graft replacement of the left iliac artery using a ringed Gore-Tex graft (6 mm in diameter). Postoperative angiogram showed a patent graft without any residual aneurysm in the left iliac artery. His ankleibrachial index improve from 0.2 to 0.6 after surgery.
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
A newly identified membrane protein localized exclusively in intracellular organelles of neurons.
We report here cloning of the cDNA of a novel membrane protein, termed p24, which, of the eight mouse tissues tested, was found only in brain where it is localized exclusively in neurons. The cDNA encodes 196 amino acids with a molecular weight of approximately 24000. P24 contains two putative membrane spanning domains and a sequence in the hydrophilic tail homologous to the microtubule-binding domain of microtubule-associated proteins, such as TAU and MAP-2. We prepared antibodies to p24 and demonstrated that the protein is rich in nerve fibers of the cerebral cortex, anterior cerebral nuclei and hypothalamus. When neuroblastoma Neuro 2a cells were treated with retinoic acid to induce differentiation, p24 mRNA increased but the p24 protein was not detected. The protein expressed from the p24 cDNA in non-neuronal Cos-7 cells was 24 kDa in size and were localized only in lysosomes. These findings indicate that p24 is a neuron-specific membrane protein localized in intracellular organelles of highly differentiated neural cells and suggest that it may play a role in the neural organelle transport system.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Regulation of the ferrochelatase gene expression during differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia cells.
Ferrochelatase [EC 4.99.1.1], the last step enzyme of heme biosynthesis, is transcribed from a single promoter. The enzyme is ubiquitously expressed in all cells, while the transcription is induced during erythroid differentiation. In a transient transfection assay, we identified two cis-acting elements involved in regulating the human ferrochelatase gene in mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells; one is the distal region (-108 to -95) for the basic expression in erythroid and non-erythroid cells, and the other is the proximal region (-80 to -72) corresponding to the induced expression during differentiation of dimethylsulfoxide-treated MEL cells. DNase I footprinting and gel mobility shift analyses revealed the presence of nuclear protein binding to the distal and the proximal regions, in both induced and uninduced MEL cells. These mean that two promoter regions play an important role in regulating the induced expression of ferrochelatase.
Animals↗